One Dead After SUV Slams Into Two Men, Building

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – One person is dead, two hospitalized after the driver of an SUV hit two men standing on a sidewalk before slamming into a building in Miami.

The accident happened on NW 7th Avenue between 27th and 28th Streets.

The driver of the SUV went up onto the sidewalk and hit two men standing by the side of the Laguna Seafood Restaurant, according to Miami Fire Rescue spokesman Lt. Ignatius Carroll.

“I just heard something like a bomb, explosive so I ran outside and when I ran outside I saw two people on the floor,” said Daniel Posada.

“The two men that we had on the sidewalk, the first one was transported to Ryder Trauma Center in extremely critical, paramedics had to assist with his breathing so that kind of gives you an idea of how serious his condition is. The second person unfortunately died on the scene,” said Lt. Carroll. “Now the driver of the vehicle, when we arrived, was very battered and very confused which is normal when you have some type of head injury.”

The driver of the SUV was also taken to Ryder Trauma Center.

A witness across the street said the two men were getting coffee from the take out window of the restaurant.

Paul Jarrim said one of the men hit, who drove a taxi, was killed instantly.

“I feel for him, I feel for his family,” said Jarrim.

The SUV then slammed into a liquor store next to the restaurant. The impact caused bottles to fall from shelves inside the restaurant and injured Mike Jimenez, the store’s owner, who was knocked to the ground.

“I have no words right now, I’m just glad to be here, I’m blessed,” said Jimenez. “I felt lucky, I felt blessed.”

“It’s shocking that something like this could happen. The car just plowed through and after that the gentlemen got hit,” said witness Angel Moreno.

Several restaurant employees, who spent part of their day cleaning up the blood stains and shattered glass, were shaken by what had happened.

“They are terrified,” said Laguna’s owner John Alexander. “They were very lucky because if that guy had come in the front, nobody would be here right now, they would all have been in the hospital.”

Police have not released the name of driver or the two men who were hit.